Graduate Programs

NDSU offers both MS degrees and Ph.D. degrees in Pharmaceutical Sciences (current students). The graduate program emphasizes both research and teaching excellence. Our size allows us to offer individual attention to the graduate student.

The master's program requires a minimum of 30 semester credit hours, of which 20 must be in the major field. Thesis research carries no fewer than eight and no more than 15 credits.

The doctor of philosophy degree is awarded in recognition of high scholarly achievement as evidenced by a period of successful study, the satisfactory completion of examinations and the development of an acceptable dissertation project covering some significant aspect of a major field of learning and research. Doctoral students must select a minor area of study and complete a minimum of 19 credit hours in that area. Upon completion of most of the course work, the student must pass written and oral preliminary examinations before being formally admitted to candidacy for the Ph.D. degree.

Students with a bachelor of science degree in biology or chemistry must have an adequate background for graduate work in the College. After successful completion of either degree program students have had a high level of success gaining highly desirable employment in academia, industry and governmental agencies doing work in pharmaceutical sciences.

Pharm.D./Ph.D. ProgramCollege of Pharmacy, Nursing, and Allied Sciences at NDSU

Purpose:

The Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, one of five academic departments of the College of Pharmacy, Nursing, and Allied Sciences, subscribes to the missions of the College and of North Dakota State University in the provision of Teaching, Research, and Service. The Department provides instruction in disciplines applicable to science. The faculty design and conduct research in the natural and biological sciences, as well as mentor graduate and Professional students in advanced concepts of pharmaceutical science and in the process of scientific inquiry.

NDSU offers both the MS and Ph.D. degrees in Pharmaceutical Sciences. The graduate program emphasizes both research and teaching excellence. The doctor of philosophy degree is awarded in recognition of high scholarly achievement as evidenced by a period of successful study, the satisfactory completion of examinations and the development of an acceptable dissertation project covering some significant aspect of a major field of learning and research. After successful completion of a Ph.D. degree program, students have had a high level of success gaining highly desirable employment in academia, industry and governmental agencies.

The dual program (Pharm.D./Ph.D.) is designed to provide an opportunity for outstanding professional students in the Pharmacy Program at North Dakota State University obtain research experience and a Doctor of Philosophy degree in the Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences.

It is proposed that this can be accomplished with an additional three years of study and research placed between the second and the third years of the four-year professional program.

It is believed that the combination of the Pharm.D. and Ph.D. degrees will greatly enhance the student’s research background, critical thinking skills, and marketability for leadership positions within the profession of Pharmacy in academic, government, and industrial environments.

Summer Research ExperienceDuring the summer between the P1 and P2 years, up to six students per year will be allowed into an introductory research experience phase of the Pharm.D./Ph.D. program and will spend twelve weeks rotating throughout these three research laboratories. A summer stipend will be provided for each participating student in return for a 20 hour/week commitment (These funds are to be obtained from the College’s differential tuition funds).

AdmissionStudents in the Doctor of Pharmacy program will make an application to the Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences by December 20h at the end of the fall term of their second year (P2) in the program for acceptance into the Pharm.D./Ph.D. program. They should have a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or above. At the same time, an application to the graduate school should also be made. The GRE should also be taken by the end of this semester. Pharm.D./Ph.D. applications will be considered by the Department as for all graduate students.

Course requirements during the professional programThe Pharm.D. curriculum is unchanged. In the fall semester of the P1 year, a faculty member(s) will make the students aware of the Pharm.D./Ph.D. option, and briefly outline the program.

The Ph.D. Graduate Dissertation Years (i.e. G1, G2, G3)Beginning June 1st (September 1st for “late” P2s) of the first Ph.D. year (G1), the students will receive a monthly stipend, and tuition waiver and will continue to receive during Ph.D. graduate year 2 (G2) and year 3 (G3). For this time period the students are full-time graduate students in the Department, subject to the same expectations (e.g. seminar participation, 6 credits of PSCI 790, year-round study, etc.). During the three graduate years, the students will be required to complete STAT 725 (3 cr), BIOC 701 (4 cr) and BIOC 702 (4 cr). In addition, if interested, students may take other 700-level courses available in the department and university. Thus by the end of G3, the students will have a minimum of (12 cr) 600-level and (up to 21 cr) 700-level didactic credits. At the end of three graduate years, students would be able to write dissertation and pass the final thesis examination.

In addition to didactic credits, students will take 1 credit Seminar (PSCI 790) in the fall and the Spring semesters of each of the three graduate years. Students will also be required to take 60 thesis research credits (PSCI 799) during three graduate years.

The Clinical Years (i.e. P3 & P4)For the final two years of the professional program, dual degree students will receive a waiver of NDSU base tuition and pharmacy differential tuition. No changes in the didactic coursework of the P3 year are proposed.

Program requirements for the participantsOnce accepted into the dual degree program (i.e. the G1 year and beyond), the student is considered to be a full-time graduate student in the Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences. They must maintain a GPA of 3.0 or above.

Ph.D. Summary: 12 credits of 600 and at least 18 out of 21 suggested credits of 700=30 didactic credits, with 6 credits seminar and 60 credits dissertation gives a total of 96 graduate credits. Up to 12 credits of 600 level courses can be used for the Pharm.D.

P3 and P4 years will remain as it is in the traditional Pharm.D. program.

Suggested Course Schedule for Pharm.D. /Ph.D. Students:

P-1 Year: It would remain the same. In summer, students are required to do a research rotation in three laboratories. Please contact the Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences (231-7661) for details.